Although all tyres pretty much look the same, you may be surprised by how different they can be. This is often reflected in their price and, ultimately, their quality.
Knowing what to look for when purchasing new tyres is paramount to getting the best possible deal for your car. You don’t want to spend too much or too little, but striking that delicate balance isn’t something that will come naturally.
Along with searching ‘new tyres Christchurch’ to find the best offer online, we have compiled four things you should keep an eye out for when shopping for tyres. Read on, and you will be a tyre aficionado in no time.
1. Know Your Tyre Size
This one is easily overlooked if you are new to purchasing tyres, but it is the most important thing to check. The size of your tyres dictates which kinds can fit your car.
Like we said before, while all tyres may look the same, they can vary enormously. The seemingly random assortment of letters and numbers along the top of your tyre actually means something. It refers to the wheel’s size.
If we give the example of 205/55 R16 91W as our tyre code, it would mean the following:
- 205: The tyre width in mm
- 55: The width of the tyre as a percentage
- R16: Wheel diameter
- 91: Load capacity
- W: Speed rating
This information is integral in purchasing the right tyres for your vehicle.
2. Check the Weather
This might sound irrelevant, but it actually plays a significant role in the performance of your tyres. Will you be using your new tyres in hot or cold weather? The two perform very differently, with winter tyres demonstrating improved grip and control. In fact, many people opt for so-called ‘winter tyres’ year-round thanks to their strong grip. Keep the climate in mind when making your purchase.
3. Check Your Budget
Like most things in life, the more you pay for your tyres, the higher you can expect the quality to be. However, this doesn’t mean you need to break your bank searching for replacements. There are plenty of ‘budget’ options that serve their purpose perfectly well. In fact, some premium tyres may not suit your vehicle or your needs.
If you will only be driving on standard roads, you don’t need to have the reinforced off-roading ice-proof tyres. Reassess how much you’re truly willing to spend before beginning your search, otherwise, you could easily spend too much unnecessarily.
4. Always Purchase in Pairs
Something not many people realize is the necessity to purchase new tyres in twos. It can be easy to assume that if one tyre becomes damaged or decayed then you only need to replace that one, but that isn’t true.
Due to how the tyres are positioned, connecting them to the body of the car, they need to be near-identical to balance out your vehicle. If you have one brand-new wheel and another worn-out one fitted to the same axle, you’re going to throw off your entire control. This can be potentially dangerous. Don’t take the risk. Always fit new tyres in pairs for the front and rear.
Tyre Shopping Doesn’t Need to be Complicated
There might have been a lot of information you never considered before when it comes to tyre shopping, but don’t worry. The most important factors include your tyre size, which is usually written in big letters, and your intentions for said wheels. You’re already giving yourself a head start by doing some preliminary research. Now you just need to find the right pair for your car!
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